BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes after hymenoptera stings and other environmental exposures are referred to as the Kounis syndrome or allergic myocardial ischemia and infarction. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 58-year-old man with transient inferior ST-segment elevation consistent with myocardial ischemia after a single wasp sting. Urgent cardiac catheterization revealed normal coronary arteries with a normal left ventriculogram. The evaluation and treatment of cardiac ischemia associated with an allergic reaction is discussed. CONCLUSION: ST elevation myocardial infarction after wasp envenomation is an exceptional and interesting pathology with a partially elucidated pathogenesis. The management of cardiac ischemia in this setting is uncertain.
BACKGROUND: Acute coronary syndromes after hymenoptera stings and other environmental exposures are referred to as the Kounis syndrome or allergic myocardial ischemia and infarction. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 58-year-old man with transient inferior ST-segment elevation consistent with myocardial ischemia after a single wasp sting. Urgent cardiac catheterization revealed normal coronary arteries with a normal left ventriculogram. The evaluation and treatment of cardiac ischemia associated with an allergic reaction is discussed. CONCLUSION: ST elevation myocardial infarction after wasp envenomation is an exceptional and interesting pathology with a partially elucidated pathogenesis. The management of cardiac ischemia in this setting is uncertain.